Device for selecting the calculating mechanism and controlling the mode of operation of a cash register or printing accounting machine

ABSTRACT

Device for selecting calculating mechanisms and controlling modes of operation of a cash register or printing accounting machine having manual or automatic selecting and controlling means associated one with the other for selecting the calculating mechanisms and the respective mode of operation of the machine and including a row of control keys, rows of calculator selecting keys and differential release mechanisms associated with the rows of keys, including control discs which, in automatically operative condition of the machine, for determining cross totals of the calculating mechanisms, are pre-adjustable stepwise by the machine drive into a new control position for a next succeeding machine operation, stop means for the control discs, and sensing means for determining in the next succeeding machine operation a setting for one of the rows of control keys and for the differential release mechanisms associated with the rows of calculator selecting keys, upon which setting the selecting of the calculating mechanisms and the controlling of the modes of operation are dependent.

United States Patent [1 1 Kleffman et al.

[ 1 June 26, 1973 DEVICE FOR SELECTING THE CALCULATING MECHANISM ANDCONTROLLING THE MODE OF OPERATION OF A CASH REGISTER OR PRINTINGACCOUNTING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Gunter Kleffman, Bielefeld; GerhardRethmeier, Oldentrup, both of Germany Anker-Werke AG, Bielefeld, Germany22 Filed: Apr. 26, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 247,556

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data I I] M I ll 3,688,979 9/1972Kleffmann 235/62 F Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Attorney-HerbertL. Lerner et al.

57 ABSTRACT Device for selecting calculating mechanisms and controllingmodes of operation of a cash register or printing accounting machinehaving manual or automatic selecting and controlling means associatedone with the other for selecting the calculating mechanisms and therespective mode of operation of the machine and including a row ofcontrol keys, rows of calculator selecting keys and differential releasemechanisms associated with the rows of keys, including control discswhich, in automatically operative condition of the machine, fordetermining cross totals of the calculating mechanisms, arepre-adjustable stepwise by the machine drive into a new control positionfor a next succeeding machine operation, stop means for the controldiscs, and sensing means for determining in the next succeeding machineoperation a setting for one of the rows of control keys and for thedifferential release mechanisms associated with the rows of calculatorselecting keys, upon which setting the selecting of the calculatingmechanisms and the controlling of the modes of operation are dependent.

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DEVICE FOR SELECTING THE CALCULATING MECHANISM AND CONTROLLING THE MODEOF OPERATION OF A CASH REGISTER OR PRINTING ACCOUNTING MACHINE Theinvention of the instant application relates to a device for selectingthe calculating mechanism and controlling the mode of operation of acash register or printing accounting machine and, more particularly, tosuch a device having manual and automatic control and selecting meanscoordinated therewith for selecting the calculating mechanism and therespective mode of operation of the machine to be controlled.

Mechanical bookkeeping or accounting machines having print-out mechanismwith paper carriages that are fitted with interchangeable programcontrol rails which control a pre-selectable program in the course ofperforming accounting or book-keeping operations, have been knownheretofore as, for example, in German Pat. 1,194,182.

Moreover, it is no longer novel to determine by suitable programmingautomatically the cross total of all the calculating mechanisms onprogram-controlled invoicing machines, also provided with print-outmechanisms and paper carriages, wherein the calculating mechanisms areset to zero one after the other and the totals obtained are transferredby addition to an adding mechanism (note US. Pat. Nos. 2,756,926 and3,072,329).

For cash registers and accounting machines provided with print-outmechanisms and operating without paper carriages and program rails, astepwise adjustable selecting and mode of operation controlling devicehas already been proposed by means of which the computing mechanisms arereturned to zero to obtain the cross total in a rising and fallingsequence.

Whereas the aforementioned types of machines provided with print-outmechanisms permit given possible variations in the sequence of selectionof the calculating mechanisms and operational modes of the machine, inthe case of the last-mentioned cash registers and printing accountingmachines, only inflexible operating systems have hitherto been knownwhich exclude any kind of variation.

Cash registers and, above all, printing accounting machines, arefurnished, however, with a considerable number of calculating mechanismswhich are usually divided into groups and sub-groups in order, forexample, to handle certain classes of goods or services.

It is accordingly an object of the invention of the instant applicationto provide an automatic device for selecting the calculating mechanismand controlling the mode of operation of cash registers and accountingmachines equipped with printing mechanisms, which affords a variableinitial control of the calculating mechanism and the modes of operationof the respective cash registers and accounting machines.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a device for selecting calculatingmechanisms and controlling modes of operation of a cash register orprinting accounting machine having manual and automatic control andselecting means associated one with the other for selecting thecalculating mechanisms and the respective modes of operation of themachine to be controlled, comprising, when the operation of the machineis automatic, control discs pre-adjustable stepwise by the machine driveinto a new control position for a next succeeding machine operation fordetermining cross totals of the calculating mechanisms. The discs areprovided with stop means for determining through scanners or sensingmeans operatively associated therewith, a setting for one of the rows ofcontrol keys and for the differential release mechanisms associated withthe rows of calculator selecting keys, in the next succeeding machineoperation. The selecting of the calculating mechanisms and thecontrolling of the modes of operation are dependent upon the setting.

Through the automatic calculator selecting and mode of operation controldevice according to the invention, calculations by cash registers andprinting accounting machines are made exceptionally flexible, be causethe stepped stops of the pre-adjustable control discs are adaptable toparticular requirements and both the sequence of movements as well asthe selection of the calculating mechanisms may be varied as desired,due to the varying construction of the control discs. The selecting andmode of operating control device of the invention affords, for cashregisters and printing accounting machines, completely new functions oroperations which were hitherto reserved only for accounting machinesfurnished with print-out mechanisms and program controls.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the control discsare mounted on a switch shaft, and there is further included a steppingswitch actuable by the machine drive for effecting stepwise rotation ofthe control shaft and operable either by a manual or automatic controlmeans and, before the completion of an initiated machine operation, thecontrol discs are transferable into a control position determining thefunctions of the next succeeding machine operation.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the differentialrelease mechanisms associated with the row of control keys and thedifferential release mechanisms associated with the rows of calculatorselecting keys, respectively, have a multiplicity of positions 0" to 11"and 0 to 9, respectively, that are to be controlled, the positions beingselectable, by the control discs, in any alternate combination forcontrolling different operations of the machine.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a balanceamount mechanism exerts a controlling influence upon automatic totalingoperations of the machine for determining cross totals of thecalculating mechanisms, the balance amount mechanism controlling, inaccordance with the algebraic condition thereof, positive and negativeintermediate and final totaling operations of the machine.

In accordance with an added feature of the invention, there are providedmeans for interrupting automatic operation of the machine to determinethe cross total of all of the calculating mechanisms, and means formanually triggering a further amount inserting machine operation toresume operation of the machine.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin device for selecting the calculating mechanism and controlling themode of operation of a cash register or printing accounting machine, itis nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and within the scope andrange of the equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional view of a cash register incorporating thedevice of the invention, taken through a bank of amount keys;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the keyboard of the cashregister of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cash register of FIG. I takenthrough a bank of control keys;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly in section, of an automatic control andselecting device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the automatic control and selectingdevice of FIG. 4 coordinated with various elements of the cash register;

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of an automatic machine releasemechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, partly in section, of the auto matic control andselecting device of another type of machine;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a driving mechanism for the controland selecting device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a locking device for the control and selectingdevice of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the automaticcontrol means of the controlling and selecting device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the plus and minus controlmechanism of the control and selecting device of FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings, and first particularly to FIG. llthereof, there is shown therein a cash register ll, including a key bank2 formed of triangular support plates 3 slid onto fixed shafts 4, 5 and6 and locked by suitable securing means. As seen more clearly in FIG. 2,the key bank 2 has five rows 7 of amount keys 8 and 9, four rows 10 ofvalue keys 11, one row 12 of control keys including a control key 13 forreleasing interim addition operations of the machine, a control key 14for releasing final addition operations of the machine and a key lock 15formed of a plurality of code keys I6, for controlling different machinefunctions, and two rows 17 of calculating mechanism selector keys 1% and19.

A U-shaped guide rail 20 is secured to the support plate 3 by screws 21,the shanks 22 of the amount keys 8 ofa row 7 thereof, as shown in FIG.2, being displaceably journalled in the rail 20. Riveted to the keyshanks 2 are key pins 23 which are biased by a tension spring 27suspended from pins 24 and 25 and supported by bearing pins 26 intoholding the amount keys 8 in the initial position thereof shown in FIG.l. The key pins 23 extend into slots 28 formed in the bearing plate 3,which is provided with bearing bolts 29 and 30, a locking slide 30' anda zero pawl slide 31 being displaceably disposed on the bolts 29 and 30.A projection or nosepiece 32 of the zero pawl slide 31 cooperates with aswitch pin 33 of a zero stop pawl 35 which is rotatable about the bolt34 and is subjected to the biasing action of a tension spring 36.Mounted on the key shafts 22 are offset stops 37 cooperating with-teeth38, also offset, of a control mechanism stepping slide ill guided onstay bolts 39 and 49, a draw bar 43 being suspended from a bearing bolt42 of the stepping slide 41, the draw bar 413 being, in turn, secured toa pin 44 of a con-' trol mechanism release lever 45. The release lever45 is part of a conventional differential release mechanism 46, having adrive segment 47 in engagement with a toothed segment 49 rotatable on aspindle 83 fixed to the cash register housing. Sensing or scanningrollers 51 and 52 are rotatably mounted on a lever arm 50 of the toothedsegment 49, and cooperate with cam discs 54 and 55, which are secured toa main shaft 53 of the cash register, the cam discs 54 and 55 being soprofiled that, during part of the first half of the rotation of the mainshaft 53, they transport the toothed segment 49 in clockwise direction,as viewed in FIG. I, and during part of the second half of the rotationof the main shaft 53, they transport the toothed segment 49 into thestarting position thereof, shown in FIG. I. In the course of thisoperation, the stepping slide at is moved to the right-hand side, asseen in FIG. 1, until a tooth 38 abuts a stop 37 of a depressed key 8.The pawl and ratchet control mechanism 46 also has a toothed segment 56which adjusts or set the type wheels of a conventional printingmechanism through non-illustrated gears and connecting shafts, and isarticulatingly linked by a pin 57 with a rod 58 which is, in turn,linked to a lever 59. The lever 59 is rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft60 and drives toothed segments 6i and 62, the teeth of which mesh withpinions 65 and 66, which are secured to indicator rollers 67 and 63, andare journalled on spindles 69 and 70.

Another draw bar 72 is articulatingly linked to the pin 44 of therelease lever and is set in driving engagement by a pin 73 with atriple-armed disc 76 rotatable on a spindle 75. The disc 76 is providedwith rectangular entrainer members or drivers 77 and 79 which cooperatewith square stay bolts 80, 81 and 82 of the toothed segments 33, 84 and85 which are also rotatably mounted on the spindle 75. Suspended'fromthe pins 86, 86 and 88 of the disc 76 are tension springs 89, 90 and 9Bwhich are secured to pins'92, 93 and 94 of the toothed segments 83, 84and 85 and maintain the stay bolts 80, 81 and 82 in positiveforce-locking engagement with the drivers 77, 78 and 79. The toothedsegments 83, 84 and 85 mesh in their engaged condition with countingwheels 95, 96 and 97 of the calculating mechanisms. The calculatorsinclude a balance amount mechanism 99 of conventional constructiondisposed on a control shaft 98, and nine adding mechanisms I02, 103,designed, respectively, on switch shafts I00 and 101. The addingmechanisms W2, W3 have nine counting wheels 95, 96 per decimal place, sothat, in addition to the balance amount mechanism 99, a total of 18adding mechanisms are provided. When the amount is introduced, the slide4B of the control mechanism scans or senses, during the first half ofthe operation of the machine, the amount keys 8, 9 and is arrested bythe depressed amount key. Since this process takes place in the additionmode, the selected calculator or calculators are swung during the secondhalf of the operation of the machine into the toothed segment 83, 8d and85 and transfer the previously scanned or sensed values to theirposition.

The driving mechanism of the cash register I shown in FIG. 3 includes anelectric motor I05 provided with a pinion I06 which meshes with a gearW8 that is rotatable on a stationary bearing pin 107 and drives, throughanother reduction stage 110, 111 mounted on a bearing pin 109, a gear112 which is journalled on a pin 113 and is connected by a conventionalroller clutch 114 to a gear 115 and a locking disc 117 provided with astop 116. The gear 115 simultaneously meshes with a gear 118 secured tothe aforementioned main shaft 53 of the machine as well as with a gear119 secured to another control shaft 120 of rectangular cross section. Aswitch roller 122 is rotatably mounted on a pin 121 at the back of thegear 1 19 and cooperates with a switch lever 123 rotatable journalled ona bolt 124 and having a lever arm 125 which acts on a switch lever 126of a switch 127, serving to close the circuit of the electric motor 105.In the stage shown in FIG. 3, the switch lever 123, which is subjectedto the action of a tension spring 128 and the switch roller 122, isdisposed in ineffective position (switched-off position). The bolt 124also carries another switch lever 129 which is subject to the influenceof a tension spring 130, and is provided with a scanning or sensingroller 131 which cooperates with a control cam 132 mounted on the mainshaft 53 of the machine. The lever arm 133 of the switch lever 129 andthe lever arm 125 of the switch lever 123 are provided with arcuatestops 134 and 135, which cooperate with a stationary bolt 136 whichlimits the rotation of the switch levers 123 and 129 that is produced bythe tension springs 128 and 130, when the switch 127 is switched on.Secured tothe lever arm 123 is a rotatable link 137 which engages a pin138 of a locking lever 139 provided with a locking hook 140 whichcooperates with the aforementioned stop 116 of the locking disc 117. Thelocking lever 139 is secured on a switch shaft 141 and carries a slideroller 142 which, in starting position thereof, abuts a concave controlprofile 143 of a release segment 145 provided with another concavecontrol profile 144. The release segment 145 is secured to a releaseshaft 146 and carries a pin 147 on which a link 148 is rotatably mountedand is operatively connected by a pin 149 with a switch segment 150. Atension spring 151 is connected at one end thereof to the pin 149 of theswitch segment and is suspended at the other end thereof from astationary pin 152. The switch segment 150 is rotatably journalled on apin 153 and has a stop 154 which is in contact in the starting positionwith a locking member 156 that is secured to a switch shaft which formspart of a locking device described in German Pat. 964,905 and serves forreleasing the operation of the machine when one of the control orcalculator selecting keys shown in FIG. 2 is actuated.

Linked to the pin 157 of the control segment 150 is a rod 158 which isrotatably mounted on a pin 159 of a switch member 160 which is alsosecured to the switch shaft 141 and has a switch pin 161 provided with aswitch lever 162 which engages in a V-shaped groove 163 formed in a link164 which is maintained in the starting position corresponding to theposition shown in FIG. 3 by a spring-loaded rod 165. The link 164 isrotatably secured to apin 166 of a triangular scanning or sensingsegment 167 which is journalled on a stationary bolt 168 and has a guideroller 169 which cooperates with a switch cam 170 that is rigidlysecured to the main shaft 53 of the machine.

When an operation of the machine is started, the switch shaft 155 turnsthe locking member 156 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, and theswitch segment 150 also turns under the bias of the tension spring 151in the same rotary direction about the pin 153. Accordingly, the link148 entrains the release segment 145 which releases the locking lever139 of which the locking hook 140 is swung under the bias of the tensionspring 130, which engages the switch lever 129, out of the vicinity ofthe stop 116, and the lever arm 133 of the switch lever 129 switches onthe switch 124. The starting electric motor 105 accordingly rotates themain shaft 53 of the machine as well as the control shaft 120 incounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, the switch lever 123being also transferred to the switched-on position under the bias of thetension spring 128. As soon as the control cam 132, after a partialrotation of approximately 260, turns the switch lever 129counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, the locking lever 139 and theswitch shaft 141 connected thereto are swivelled in the same rotarydirection and, in turn, transfer the switch segment 150, as well as therelease segment 145 to the starting position shown in FIG. 3. Justbefore the end of the operation of the machine, the switch roller 122actuates the switch lever 123 which switches off the electric motor 105,and the stop 116 strikes against the locking hook 140.

The shafts 171 of the control key 13, the control key 14 and the. codekey 16 located in the control key bank 12, also have stops 173cooperating with rectangular stops 174 of a release slide 176 guidedrectilinearly by pins 175. The slide 176 is in driving engagementthrough a draw bar 178 secured to a pin 177, with a setting or adjustinglever 179 of a differential control or release mechanism 180 which isalso driven by the main shaft 53 of the machine. Riveted to the toothedsegment 181 of the differential control mechanism 180 is a pin 182 whichserves to receive a draw bar 183 which is provided for adjusting anon-illustrated control disc which determines the selection of thecalculating mechanism and the mode of operation of the machine.

A cam disc 184 for final totaling operations of the machine, a cam disc185 for intermediate totals, a cam disc 186 for addition operations, aswell as a cam disc 187, all of which effect the swinging-in movements ofthe calculating mechanism, are secured on the control shaft 120.

The device for controlling the modes of operation of the machine and forselecting the calculating mechanism is thoroughly described in GermanPublished Application DDS 1,963,636.

The selector keys l8 and 19 of the calculating mechanism are alsodisplaceably mounted in non-illustrated key banks and cooperate withnon-illustrated differential release mechanisms which drive, through thelink 188 (FIG. 3) and lever drives 189, toothed segments 190 and 191,which are in engagement with pinions 192 and 193. The pinions-192 and193 are mounted on switch shafts 194 and 195 which, through conventionalsteep-pitched lifting drives, effect the lateral displacement of theswitch shafts 100 and 101 (FIG. 1) for the purpose of selecting theindividual adding mechanisms 102 and 103 in dependence on the setting oradjustment of the differential control mechanism coordinated therewith.The hereinbefore-described devices are known and thoroughly described inGerman Published Application DDS 1,963,636.

The differential control or release mechanism 180 (FIG. 3) adjusts,through a partially illustrated gear connection 199, a control disc 201(FIG. 4) secured to a switch shaft 200, the profile 202 of the controldisc 201 (FIG. 5) cooperating with a scanningor sensing pin 203 of abell-crank lever 204, which is also provided with a pin 205 to which adraw bar 206 is linked.

Formed in the profile 202 is a substantially rectangular recess 207 intowhich the scanning or sensing pin 203 can drop when the differentialrelease mechanism 180 attains the position determined by the code key16/2 (FIG. 2) of the code key 16. The draw bar 206 is rotatably disposedon a bearing pin 208 of a reversing lever 209 located on a switch shaft210 which carries another reversing lever 211 to which a link 212 issecured. The link 212 is formed with an elongated slot 213 in which apin 214 of a bell-crank lever 215 engages. Suspended from the pin 214 isa tension spring 216 which is anchored to a pin 217 extending from themachine wall 218. The bell-crank lever 215 is mounted on a pin 219riveted into the machine wall 218 and is provided with a claw 220 whichcooperates with a stop 221 of a switch lever 222 which is freelyrotatably mounted on a switch shaft 223 that is adjustably disposed inbores formed in the machine walls 218 and 226. Riveted to the switchlever 222' are pins 224 and 225, of which the pin 224 acts on a feedpawl 226, and the pin 225 on a spring-mounted locking pawl 228 that isjournalled on a pin 227 extending from the machine wall 218. The feedpawl 226 is rotatably joumalled on a pin 229 seated on a feed disc 230which is also loosely disposed on the control shaft 223. A rod 232engages the pin 231 of the conveyor disc 230 and further engages a bolt233 on a bell-crank lever 235 which is rotatable about a shaft 234 andcarries a scanning or sensing roller 236 which cooperates with a camdisc 237 that is secured to the main shaft 53 of the machine. Suspendedfrom a pin 238 of the bell-crank lever 235 is a tension spring 239 whichmaintains the scanning or sensing roller 236 in contact with the camdisc 237. The feed pawl 229 cooperates with the teeth 2410 of a ratchetwheel 241 which is rigidly secured to the switch shaft 223 on which alsoselector discs 242 and 2417 are mounted and cooperate with scanning orsensing levers 248 to 253 that are loosely journalled on a spindle 254.A torsion spring 255 is provided on the switch shaft 223, one arm 256 ofthe torsion spring 255 being supported on the wall 226 of the machineand the other arm 257 of which engages in a recess 250 formed in theselector disc 247. The scanning or sensing levers 24. to 253 areprovided with nosepieces or projections 259 (FIG. 5) under which alifting spindle 260 is in engagement and is clamped between two liftinglevers 261 and 262, which are loosely journalled on the spindle 254.Riveted to the lever 262 is a pin 263 engaged by a draw bar 264 which isrotatably disposed on a bearing pin 265 of a scanning or sensing lever266 that is subjected to the bias of a spring, and is provided with asensing roller 267 which cooperates with a control cam 260 mounted onthe main shaft 53 of the machine. The hereinbefore-mentioned scanning orsensing levers 240 to 253 have pointed stops 269 and are provided withpins 270 (FIG. 5) engaged by tension springs 271 which are suspendedfrom a stationary spindle 272. Riveted to the switch lever 222 is arectangular stop 273 which cooperates with a stop pin 274' secured tothe ratchet wheel 241. Due to the prestressingof the torsion spring 255,the stop pin 277 is in abutting engagement with the stop 273 in thestarting position.

The scanning levers 2 30 to 253 cooperate by means of the pointed stops269 thereof with stepped stops 2741a and 275 to 279, that are providedin pairs, respectively connected by spacer bolts 200 and rigidly securedto telescoping tubular shafts 2041 which is engaged by a draw bar 205that is linked to the pin 177 (FIG. 3) of the differential releasemechanism of the control key row 12. The tubular shafts 282 and 201 alsocarry levers 206 and 287, respectively, from which draw bars 288 and 289are suspended and are similarly connected to the non-illustrateddifferential release mechanisms of the two rows 17 of calculatorselector keys. Secured to the feed disc 230 (FIG. 5) is a pin 290 whichcarries a clip plate or strap 291 that is linked to a pin 292 of aswitch lever 294 which is journalled on a fixed pin 293 and alsoconnects with a rod 295. The rod 295 is suspended from a pin 296 of alocking lever 297 which is rotatably mounted on the wall of the machineby a bearing 298. The locking lever 297 is provided with a locking hook299 which, in starting position, is located in front of a locking pin300 of a switch lever 301 (note also FIG. 6) which has a lever arm 302von which a pin 303 of an angularly shaped springloaded scanning orsensing lever 304 is disposed, the sensing lever 304 being rotatablyjournalled on a spindle 305 and supported by a scanning or sensingroller 306 thereof on a cam disc 307 which is secured to the main shaft53. The switch lever 301 (FIG. 6) turns about an axis 308, and a pin 309extending therefrom engages inan elongated slot 310 formed in ahoodshaped switch rod 311, which carries a pin 312 to which a tensionspring 313 is anchored which engages the pin 309. The switch rod 311 islinked to a switch lever 314 which is seated on the spindle 315, a clipplate or strap 317 being suspended from a pin 316 extending from theswitch lever 314, the strap 317 serving to adjust a release segment 318of the aforementioned locking device, the function of which isadequately known. Secured to the switch lever 301 is a triplearmed lever319 to which three switch rods 320 are secured adjacent to one anotherand slidable in pin and slot connections 321, 322 of the key banks 2associated therewith, one of the control key rows 13 and the twocalculator selecting key rows 17 or the key banks thereof beingcoordinated, respectively, with the switch rods 320. The switch rods 320are each provided with an angularly bent control profile 323 whichcooperates, respectively, with a pin 324 of the zero stop pawls 326associated with the appropriate key banks 2, the associated zero stoppawl 326 being withdrawn by a movement of the switch rod 320 to theright-hand side of FIG. 6. Riveted to the scanning lever 253 is a pin327 to which a draw bar 328 is rotatably secured. The draw bar 320 isarticulatingly connected by a pin 329 to a triangular locking lever 330which is provided with a locking pin 331 that cooperates with a lockingpawl 332, the adjustment of which is determined by the balance amountmechanism 99 (FIG. 1). When the balance amount mechanism 99 is in apositive condition, the locking pawl 332 is swung by a shaft 333, whichis actuated by the balance amount mechanism 99, out of the range of thelocking pin 331, whereas, when the balance amount mechanism 99 is in anegative condition, the locking pawl 332 assumes the locked positionshown in FIG. 5.

The hereinbefore described machine incorporating the device of theinvention,'operates as follows:

The differential control or release mechanism 180 (FIG. 3) of thecontrol key row 12 sets or adjusts the control discs 201 (FIG. when anoperation of the machine is performed which has been triggered by thecode key 16 (FIG. 2), into a position in which the scanning or sensingpin 203, which is biased by a strong tension spring 334, can drop intothe recess 207 and, thereby, the bell-crank lever 215 moves in clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 5, and the claw 230 thereof releases theswitch lever 222 which, under the bias of the tension spring 335associated therewith, is turned counterclockwise about the switch shaft223, as viewed in FIG. 5, and the pins 224 and 225 release the feed pawl226 as well as the locking pawl 228. With this operation of the machine,the balance amount mechanism 99 is switched into the final addition orsumming operation of the machine and the result is expressed in aconventional manner. The starting control cam 268 releases, after thestart of the preliminary operation of the machine, the scanning orsensing levers 248 to 253, which, however, cannot drop into recessesformed in the selector discs 242 to 247 during the first operation ofthe machine, because this operation is directly controlled by the codekeys 16. During this machine opera tion, the cam disc 237 turns the feeddisc 230 initially counterclockwise, the previously released feed pawl226 thereof adjusting the ratchet wheel 241 and the selector discs 242to 247 by one switching step in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5,during the return movement occurring just before the end of theoperation. In the course of the counterclockwise movement, the feed disc230 draws the rod 295 downwardly, as viewed in FIG. 5, by means of theclip plate 291, whereby the locking lever 297 is swung away from thelocking pin 300. The cam disc 307 (FIG. 6) turns the scanning or sensinglever 304 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, after therelease of the locking pin 300, whereby the spring-loaded switch lever301 turns in counterclockwise direction about the shaft 308, the switchrods 320 raise the zero stop pawls 326 of the row of control keys 13, aswell as of the row 17 of calculator selecting keys, and the switch rod311 adjusts the release segment 318 associated therewith, which releasesthe next operation of the machine which is carried out automatically.

As indicated hereinbefore, with each of the twelve positions of thedifferential release mechanism 180 associated with the control key row12, there may be associated any desired selective control function whichmay be an addition or subtraction operation of the machine, anintermediate totaling operation. Associated with the individualpositions of the non-illustrated differential release mechanism of thetwo rows 17 of calculator selecting keys are the selecting functions ofthe adding mechanisms 102 and 103 which are normally controlled manuallyfor addition or subtraction by means of the calculator selecting keys18/1 to 18/9 and l9/A to 19/I, respectively. The selector discs 242 to247 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, can assume or combine, during automaticoperation, some of the selecting functions of the control keys l3 and14, the code keys 16 and the calculator selecting keys 18 and 19,depending upon the requirements of the calculating program that is beingcarried out.

During the second operation of the machine which, as aforedescribed istriggered automatically, one of the scanning or sensing levers 250 or251 drops into a recess formed in the selector disc 244 or 245,respectively associated therewith, so that the stepped stop 276 or 277driven by the differential release mechanism associated therewith,effects a stopping contact in the first position which corresponds tothe calculating mechanism selecting key 18/1. In contrast to the amountintroducing function of the calculator selecting key 18/2, theappropriate adding mechanism 102/2 is set to zero by the final totalingoperation with this operation of the machine and the abstracted sumtransferred to the balance amount mechanism 99. This operation isfollowed automatically by other machine totaling operations wherein theadding mechanism 102/2 to 102/9 are set to zero and the sums obtainedare transferred to the balance amount mechanism 99. After the totalingprocess of the adding mechanism 102/9, an intermediate machine totalingoperation is controlled, through suitable construction of the selectordiscs 242 to 247, wherein the intermediate sum (ST) is abstracted fromthe balancing mechanism 99 and printed.

This operation is followed automatically by other totaling operations ofthe machine wherein the adding mechanisms 19/A to 19/I are emptied. Thedetermined sums, which may be positive or negative, are transferred alsoby addition or subtraction to the balance amount mechanism 99 and,according to the number of zero places of the adding mechanism 19/I, afinal totaling operation of the machine takes place wherein thebalancing amount mechanism 99 is set to zero and the cross sum of theadding mechanisms 102 and 103, which may be either positive or negative,is determined and printed. The pattern or schedule of the respectiveautomatic operations of the machine is determined by the construction ofthe selector discs 242 to 247 so that the sequence of the calculatingmechanisms to be controlled and the respective modes of operation to becontrolled, namely addition, intermediate total or final total, arevaried as desired and are thereby readily adjustable to anyrequirements.

In another embodiment which is described hereinafter in greater detailwith reference to a type of machine disclosed in German PublishedApplication DDS 1,424,61 l, the key board shown in FIG. 2 is used.Extending from and secured to the walls 337 and 338 (FIG. 7) of themachine is a spindle 339 which serves as a bearing for a hollow switchshaft 340 (FIG. 8) on which a switch disc 341 is seated havingaserration of saw teeth 342. Cooperating with the switch disc 341 is A aswitch pawl 343, having a switch claw 344 which is inoperative in thestarting position because of a stop 345 of the teeth 342. The switchpawl 343 is journalled on a pin 346 of a triangular switch lever 347which is rigidly secured to a switch shaft 348 that, with each operation of the machine, is timely turned back one tooth divisioncounterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 8, and subsequently again to thestarting position by a nonillustrated switch cam driven by the mainmachine shaft and thereby effects the feed. The switch disc 341, theswitch pawl 343 and the switch lever 347 form a stepping mechanism. Atension spring 351'suspended from the pins 349 and 350 of the switchpawl 343 and the switch lever 347, respectively, imparts a force-lockingengagement of the switch claw 344 in the saw teeth 342. Inserted in alocking disc 352, shown in FIG. 7, is a switch pin 353 which cooperateswith an inclined stop 354 (FIG. 8) of a double-armed switch lever 356mounted on a pin 355, a clip plate or strap 358 being llll linked to thelever arm 357 of the switch lever 356 and overlaps a pin 359 of atriangular shift lever 360. A tension spring 362 engages a pin 361 ofthe shift lever 366, and a rod 363 is rotatably secured to the shiftlever 36%, the rod 363 being formed with an elongated slot 364, in whichthere is received a pin 365 that is secured to the zero stop pawl 366 ofone of the rows I7 of calculator connecting keys (FIG. 2). The shiftlever 364) is rigidly secured to a switch shaft 367 on which otherlevers 368 and 369 (FIG. 7) are located that displace, by means of rodsassociated therewith, the zero stop pawls coordinated with the other row17 of calculator selecting keys (FIG. 2) and the row I2 of control keys.

The aforementioned locking disc 352 (FIG. 9) is also provided withlocking teeth 370, which cooperate with a square stop 371 of a switchpawl 372 that is rotatably mounted on a pin 373 of a lever 374 and isinfluenced or controlled by a tension spring 376 that is suspended froma pin 375 extending from the lever 374. The lever 374 is freelyrotatably seated on the spindle 339, and a draw bar 377 is, moreover,secured to a pin 373 extending therefrom, the draw bar 377 beingrotatably mounted on a pin 378 extending from a switch lever 330 whichis rotatable about the switch shaft 367. Suspended from the switch lever386 (FIG. 9) is the tension spring 362 which is anchored to a pin 382extending from the switch lever 380. On another pin 383 extending fromthe switch lever 380, a draw bar 384 is journalled and is rotatablysecured by a pin 389 on the bearing eye 385 ofa key slide 388 which isdisplaceable in pin and slot guides 386, 387. The key slide 388 has aninclined control surface 296 on which, when the code key 16 is actuated,there acts a key bolt 3911, which is associated with the key lock 15,and urges the key slide 388 to the right-hand side, as viewed in FIG. 9.The key slide 388 accordingly turns the double lever 380 in clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 9, which influences the lever 374 to turnin counterclockwise direction, the lever 374, by means of the switchpawl 372 and its stop 371, displacing the locking disc 352 by oneswitching step in counterclockwise direction, so that the switch disc341, which is also seatedon the switch shaft 340, is displaced in thesame direction, whereby the switch claw 344 is able to drop into a tooth342 of the switch disc 341, and further displaces it by one switchingstep during the course of operation of the machine.

Riveted to the double lever 380 (FIG. 9) is a pin 392 which cooperateswith a locking hook 393 of a locking lever 394 mounted on the pin 355,the locking lever 394 having an inclined stop 395 that is alsoinfluenced by a switch pin 396 secured to the locking disc 352. Atension spring 398 anchored on the pin 397 of the locking lever 394 andsuspended from the fixed pin 399 pulls the locking lever 394 into thepath of the switch pin 396, whereby the locking hook 393 thereof arreststhe double lever 380 by means of the pin 392 and, consequently, the keyslide 388 connected thereto.

Riveted to the machine wall 337 (FIG. 7) is a stay bolt 400 on which alocking pawl 401 (FIG. 9) is journalled which is biased by a tensionspring 403 that is suspended from the pin 402. The locking pawl 4011 hasa stop 404 which cooperates with a locking bolt 495 which is riveted tothe locking disc 352 and has a fixed starting position.

Mounted rigidly on the switch shaft 340 (FIG. 119) is a control disc406, the. circumferential profile 497 of which is provided with steppedstops 408/0 to Mm/ll I which cooperate with a rectangular scanning orsensing member 409 ofa scanning or sensing pin 419 that is riveted to ascanning or sensing lever 412 which is rotatably mounted on aframe-fixed bearing pin 4E I, the lever 412 having a pin 413 which isengaged by a draw bar 414 that is articulatingly connected by a pin M5to a release or control mechanism slide 4I6 of the control key row I2(FIG. 2). The pin 4I5 also carries a draw bar 417 that is secured to arelease or control mechanism lever 4153 ofa differential release orcontrol mechanism 419 which is associated with the row I2 of controlkeys. When the differential mechanism 4E9 starts up, the scanning orsensing member 469 strikes against one of the stops 463 which determinesthe particular position of the release slide 4%. One of the modes ofoperation, addition, intermediate or subtotal or final total can beassociated with each position of the release slide 416 or thedifferential release or control mechanism 419 in the positions 0 to II.Moreover, with both types of machine, the control of the mode ofoperation is constructed in a conventional manner so that for one andthe same machine operation, parallel with one of the operationsintermediate or sub-total or final total, the operation addition can besimultaneously controlled for one or more selectable calculatingmechanisms in order, for example, to control an adding mechanism in thetotal sum operation of the machine and to deliver the final totalextracted therefrom to a totaling mechanism which controls the additionoperation. For the two rows 17 1 (FIG. 2) of calculator selecting keys,control discs 424) and 421 (FIG. 7) are secured to the switch shaft 346,and are in operative engagement in the same manner with the associateddifferential switch mechanism.

For the automatic control of negative and positive intermediate orsubtotal and final totals, there is secured to the switch shaft 340another control disc 422 (FIG. 111), having stepped profiles 423 and 424which cooperate with a rectangular scanning or sensing member 425 of ascanning or sensing pin 426 which is secured to a scanning or sensinglever 427 rotatably mounted on the pin 4111. The pin 423 of the scanninglever 427 is provided with a rotatable link 429, formed with anelongated slot 436 in which a pin 431 of a switch lever 432, that isdisposed on the control shaft 343, engages the lever 432, as indicatedhereinbefore, executing a partial rotation with subsequent return foreach operation of the machine, in order to bring the scanning or sensinglever 427 to the scanning or sensing position and to withdraw ittherefrom before the operation of the machine is concluded. Another pin433 is riveted to the scanning or sensing lever 427, a draw bar 434being in engagement with the pin 433 and being articulatingly connectedby a pin 435 to the lever arm 436 of a locking lever 437. The lockinglever 437 is provided with two stops 438 and 439, and is journalled on apin 440 of a control slide 44H, which is provided with another pin 442from which a rod 443 is suspended and is rotatable on a pin 444extending from a bell-crank lever 445. The bell-crank ,lever 445 isjournalled on a fixed pin 446 and is provided with a pin 448 that isriveted to a lever arm 447 thereof and cooperates with stops 449 and 450of a locking lever 452 that is clamped to a switch shaft 451. Thelocking lever 452 is controlled by the balance amount mechanism throughthe switch shaft 45L the balance amount mechanism according to thealgebraic order or condition thereof, placing the stop 449 or 450 intothe path of the pin 448.

The stops 438 and 439 cooperate with a pin 453 of the aforementionedrelease mechanism slide 416, the stops 438 and 439 being capable ofdetermining, for example, the individual positions 1 to 4 of the releasemechanism slide 416 during automatic positive or negative final orintermediate totaling operations of the machine. The stops 423 and 424of the control disc 422, and the stops 449 and 450 adjustable by thebalance amount mechanism provide, in cooperation with the stops 438 and439, the positions 1 to 4" of the release mechanism slide 416 shown inFIG. 11.

The switch shaft 340 tends to be driven in clockwise direction by anon-illustrated torsion spring which maintains the entire system in thestarting position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, or returns 'it when the lastoperation of the machine is completed.

As may be seen from FIG. 10, up to twelve positions may be approachedwith the release mechanism slide 416, of which each position can beassociated with a particular mode of operation and/or a particularselecting process. Through the combination of the control discs 406 and420 to 422, any desired calculating mechanism may accordingly beselected and controlled in any mode of operation in a freely selectablesequence. In FIG. 10, the control disc 406 which is secured to theswitch shaft 340 is shown in thefmal or end position thereof (position11), for greater clarity. In the starting position, the stepped stop408/" is located opposite the scanning or sensing member 409. As isapparent, the individual positions of the control disc 406 aredetermined by the height or depth of the stepped stops 408/0 to 408/11,and are not identical with the positions 0 to 11 which the release slidemechanism 416 can initiate. For the control discs 420 and 421, the sameconditions apply.

When the code key 16 (FIG. 2) is actuated, the locking mechanism isreleased by the key slide 388 which is associated with the row 12 ofcontrol keys, and a machine operation associated with the code key 16 istriggered, followed by other operations of the machine which proceedautomatically under the influence of the control discs 406 and 420 to422. The positions of the release or control mechanism slides ordifferential release or control mechanisms associated with thecalculator selecting key rows 17 as well as the control key bank 12determine the selecting operations that are to be carried out and theselection of the mode of operatron.

Upon the conclusion of the operation of the machine triggered by thecode key 16, the latter is again released and returns to the startingposition thereof. The key slide 388, which is biased by a tension spring381, on the other hand, is held by'the locking lever 394 in thepreferred operative position and retains this position until the switchpin 396 strikes against the locking lever 394 and displaces it incounterclockwise direction so that the locking lever 393 releases thepin 392 which is secured to the double lever 380, and the key slide 388which is spring-biased can return to the starting position and lock themachine again.

In order to be able to stop the machine in a predetermined position ofthe automatic totaling operation, for example, in order to bring an oldbalance into the calculating operation that is in process, the lockingdisc 352 is provided with the switch pin 353 which displaces the guidelever 360 (FIG. 8) counterclockwise as it runs against the switch lever356, and the key slide 388, which is returned to the starting position,thereby locks the machine again. Through the manual release ortriggering of the machine operation old balance, for example, by anothercode key 16, the automatically controlled calculating process iscontinued.

We claim:

1. Device for selecting calculating mechanisms and controlling modes ofoperation of a cash register or printing accounting machine havingmanual and automatic selecting and controlling means associated one withthe other for selecting the calculating mechanisms and the respectivemodes of operation of the machine and including a row of control keys,rows of calculator selecting keys and differential release mechanismsassociated with the rows of keys, comprising control discs which, inautomatically operative condition of the machine, for determining crosstotals of the calculating mechanisms, are pre-adjustable stepwise by themachine drive into a new control position for a next succeeding machineoperation, stop means for said control discs, and sensing means fordetermining in said next succeeding machine operation a setting for oneof the rows of control keys and for the differential release mechanismsassociated with the rows of calculator selecting keys, upon whichsetting the selecting of the calculating mechanisms and the controllingof the modes of operation are dependent.

2. Device according to claim 1 including a control shaft wherein saidcontrol discs are mounted, a stepping mechanism actuable by the machinedrive for effecting stepwise rotation of said control shaft, controlmeans for switching on said stepping mechanism and transferring saidcontrol discs, before completion of an initiated machine operation, intoa control position determining the functions of the next succeedingmachine operation. I

3. Device according to claim 1 wherein the differential releasemechanism associated with the row of control keys and the differentialrelease mechanisms associated with the rows of calculator selectingkeys, respectively, have a multiplicity of positions to be controlled,said positions being selectable by said control discs in any alternatecombination for controlling different operations of the machine.

4. Device according to claim 1 including a balance amount mechanismexerting a controlling influenceupon automatic totaling operations ofthe machine for determining cross totals of the calculating mechanisms,said balance amount mechanism controlling, in accordance with thealgebraic condition thereof, positive and negative intermediate andfinal totaling operations of the machine.

5. Device according to claim 2 wherein the control discs associated withthe row of control keys and the rows of calculator selecting keys aresecured in pairs on said control shaft, said sensing means comprising aplurality of sensing members respectively associated with said rows ofkeys, said differential release mechanisms each having a pair of stops,said sensing members being disposed, respectively, in the path of one ofthe stops of said pairs thereof, the particular position thereofdetermining the position of the differential release mechanism at thestart of the operation of the machine.

6. Device according to claim 1 including means for determining, duringsubsequent machine operations, the cross total of selected calculatingmechanism groups and printing the same by intermediate totalingprocesses, in order to determine the cross total of all the calculatingmechanisms.

7. Device according to claim 1 including zero stop pawls operativelyassociated with the control key row and the calculator selecting keyrows, and automatic rupt an initiated calculating operation of themachine, and key slide means cooperating with said pin for locking themachine.

10. Device according to claim 9 wherein said key slide is associatedwith a row of control keys,- and including another switch pin located onsaid locking disc, and a locking lever cooperating with said otherswitch pin for arresting and releasing said key slide,

- lll. Device according to claim 9 wherein said key slide is associatedwith a row of control keys, and including a ratchet drive for effectingadjustment of said locking disc and said stepping mechanism associatedtherewith, and a force-lockingly guided switch lever connecting said keyslide to said ratchet drive.

12. Device according to claim 9 including zero stop pawls operativelyassociated with the control key row and the calculator selecting keyrows, and wherein said switch pin secured to said locking disc controlssaid zero stop pawls.

1. Device for selecting calculating mechanisms and controlling modes ofoperation of a cash registeR or printing accounting machine havingmanual and automatic selecting and controlling means associated one withthe other for selecting the calculating mechanisms and the respectivemodes of operation of the machine and including a row of control keys,rows of calculator selecting keys and differential release mechanismsassociated with the rows of keys, comprising control discs which, inautomatically operative condition of the machine, for determining crosstotals of the calculating mechanisms, are pre-adjustable stepwise by themachine drive into a new control position for a next succeeding machineoperation, stop means for said control discs, and sensing means fordetermining in said next succeeding machine operation a setting for oneof the rows of control keys and for the differential release mechanismsassociated with the rows of calculator selecting keys, upon whichsetting the selecting of the calculating mechanisms and the controllingof the modes of operation are dependent.
 2. Device according to claim 1including a control shaft wherein said control discs are mounted, astepping mechanism actuable by the machine drive for effecting stepwiserotation of said control shaft, control means for switching on saidstepping mechanism and transferring said control discs, beforecompletion of an initiated machine operation, into a control positiondetermining the functions of the next succeeding machine operation. 3.Device according to claim 1 wherein the differential release mechanismassociated with the row of control keys and the differential releasemechanisms associated with the rows of calculator selecting keys,respectively, have a multiplicity of positions to be controlled, saidpositions being selectable by said control discs in any alternatecombination for controlling different operations of the machine. 4.Device according to claim 1 including a balance amount mechanismexerting a controlling influence upon automatic totaling operations ofthe machine for determining cross totals of the calculating mechanisms,said balance amount mechanism controlling, in accordance with thealgebraic condition thereof, positive and negative intermediate andfinal totaling operations of the machine.
 5. Device according to claim 2wherein the control discs associated with the row of control keys andthe rows of calculator selecting keys are secured in pairs on saidcontrol shaft, said sensing means comprising a plurality of sensingmembers respectively associated with said rows of keys, saiddifferential release mechanisms each having a pair of stops, saidsensing members being disposed, respectively, in the path of one of thestops of said pairs thereof, the particular position thereof determiningthe position of the differential release mechanism at the start of theoperation of the machine.
 6. Device according to claim 1 including meansfor determining, during subsequent machine operations, the cross totalof selected calculating mechanism groups and printing the same byintermediate totaling processes, in order to determine the cross totalof all the calculating mechanisms.
 7. Device according to claim 1including zero stop pawls operatively associated with the control keyrow and the calculator selecting key rows, and automatic control means,actuable during subsequent machine operations, for withdrawing said zerostop pawls.
 8. Device according to claim 1 including means forinterrupting automatic operation of the machine to determine the crosstotal of all of the calculating mechanisms, and means for manuallytriggering a further amount inserting machine operation to resumeoperation of the machine.
 9. Device according to claim 2 including alocking disc operatively associated with said stepping mechanism, aswitch pin insertable in a selected switch position, secured to saidlocking disc and serving to interrupt an initiated calculating operationof the machine, and key slide means cooperating with said pin forlocking the machine.
 10. Device accordIng to claim 9 wherein said keyslide is associated with a row of control keys, and including anotherswitch pin located on said locking disc, and a locking lever cooperatingwith said other switch pin for arresting and releasing said key slide.11. Device according to claim 9 wherein said key slide is associatedwith a row of control keys, and including a ratchet drive for effectingadjustment of said locking disc and said stepping mechanism associatedtherewith, and a force-lockingly guided switch lever connecting said keyslide to said ratchet drive.
 12. Device according to claim 9 includingzero stop pawls operatively associated with the control key row and thecalculator selecting key rows, and wherein said switch pin secured tosaid locking disc controls said zero stop pawls.